Full-Service Retreat, Spa and Two Reversible 18-Hole Golf Courses Designed by Golf Architect Dan Hixson Opens to Guests in Summer 2017
(SILVIES, OREGON) – The image of the American West brings to mind renegade spirits who value straight forwardness, tradition, resilience and a comedic sense of relaxation. For the traveler seeking an undiscovered Western retreat, Silvies Valley Ranch, a storied operating cattle ranch and resort located in Silvies, Oregon, is just that.
Founded in 1883, Silvies Valley Ranch is a modern-day working ranch that raises certified, organic cattle and American Range goats using riding and driving horses. The ranch adheres to sustainable agricultural practices and is recognized as a top producer in the world. Western adventures such as shooting, cattle roundup, goat herding, fishing, exploring, wagon rides, Indian cave tours and Western gourmet dining can all be found on the ranch – defining the overall serenity and impression that makes Silvies Valley Ranch a must-see destination for visitors far and wide.
“Silvies Valley Ranch has been Western America’s best kept secret for more than 130 years. Our family has had the opportunity to relish in the breathtaking vistas, abundance of wildlife and natural beauty of this region for generations, and we are eager to share our experience with the rest of the world,” said Dr. Scott Campbell. “Our hope is that guests from across the globe will be drawn to the property through golf and outdoor activities, fostering a connection with the natural beauty of the landscape; a place that we have had the privilege to call home for so many years and helping to recover the local economy.”
Incomparable Golf Experience
Silvies Valley Ranch will provide visitors with a one-of-a-kind golf experience, including two reversible 18-hole courses - the Hankins course and Craddock course, named after Pioneer families who homesteaded the site, and designed by award winning Northwest golf architect Dan Hixson (think Bandon Crossings in Bandon, Ore. and Wine Valley in Walla Walla, Wash.). The golf offerings fulfill the needs of every player, from novice to professionals of all ages, with expansive views of the area and dramatic elevation changes. The course direction is reversed each day to create a different layout with a variety of pin placements and tee box options that create thousands of unique rounds, but none with a water hazard – a design directive of the owner who has lost too many balls in the water. Instead, there are over a hundred bunkers incorporated into the course design.
The Retreat also introduces golfers to McVeigh’s Gauntlet (that will open later in 2017), a stunning 8-hole course carved into a razor back. Though challenging in design, the course is meant to be a fun, care-free course to help players settle bets and test their accuracy on a series of undulating par-3’s and par-4’s. Golfers will marvel at the views while exploring the course and its Western appeal. Chief Egan, a mountain meadow course on Paiute Creek is a 9-hole par-3 named after the last Paiute War Chief that is a fun experience with water on every hole. Together, these courses offer an unending number of golf experiences, bringing players face-to-face with the majesty and serenity of the region.
“It has been an honor and a huge responsibility to work on such a great piece of land, and become part of the Ranch team,” said Hixson, course architect. “Our goal was to create the most unique golf design in the world, providing dozens of golf rounds that are fun, challenging and picturesque. We were inspired by the purity of Scottish links, allowing for true personal connections as you play, and I think we achieved that. I am incredibly happy with the outcome of all our hard work and truly hope everyone who plays here has an unforgettable golf experience.”
Authentic Western Retreat
It’s not every day that you get to immerse yourself in a real working cattle ranch in a way that the people who work the land do. While climbing natural ridges and walking through the open prairies, guests will find themselves face-to-face with the great American West and all of its inhabitants. Visitors will have the chance to explore the grounds that were previously inhabited by Native Americans and worked by Pioneers, and will be able to learn the innovative practices of a working ranch from Silvies Valley Ranch team members. For those looking to wake up at the crack of dawn, get their hands dirty and “dine” from an authentic chuck-wagon at the end of a hard day’s work in the Wild West, Silvies is a destination that can’t-be-missed.
The size and unique Western experience provided by Silvies becomes ideal for small gatherings of friends, families, companies and associations. Outings, hikes and events are tailored to the interests of each group, creating a vacation destination like no other. With its flexible guest room plans and variety of activities, Silvies Valley Ranch is easily configured to provide a connected team-building environment.
The 140,000-acre ranch will add to its existing infrastructure with the opening of 34 ranch house and private log cabin rooms. Additional facilities include a small, free-standing conference center (for up to 40 people), full-service fitness center and spa (opening in 2018), clubhouse called “The Hideout,” a gazebo, a stable, a carriage house, pistol and rifle ranges, miles of hiking and biking trails, and Pioneer homesteads to explore.
Culinary options on the property include The Dining Room, The Gun Room, and The Porch at the Lodge, as well as The Hideout clubhouse which is totally off the grid. In-suite dining and outside catering are also available, as well as numerous entertaining spaces for rustic, gourmet picnics and gatherings for group outings and events. Perhaps the most unique dining option will be the full-service chuck wagon, available both day and night for special occasions. All on-site restaurants will serve western-inspired fare, including Silvies Valley Ranch Certified Organic “Heritage Naked Beef” and chevon.
Restoring Ecology and the Local Economy
Enjoyed first by Native Americans, then trappers and finally ranchers for the last 120 years, Silvies Valley Ranch has produced some of the best beef in the region. The cattle are bread and raised to be smaller, yielding better, smaller cuts of meat, and to be gentler on the natural land on which they are raised. “Heritage Naked Beef,” free of antibiotics, hormones, corn, alfalfa, grain, chemically treated or polluted water, or any artificial additives, is a line of beef specific to Silvies Valley Ranch, and is considered by many to be the most exceptional and unique beef available. The same is true of the ranch’s chevon that comes from a breed of goats actually developed in Silvies Valley.
At Silvies Valley Ranch, caring for and preserving the land is a top priority. The clubhouse at Silvies is totally “off the grid” and relies on self-generated solar power, and all courses on-site have committed to low fertilization with all plantings being native except the bent grass greens. Instead of insecticides, swallows and bats are used to manage mosquito populations, and 60 percent of the property uses gravity-powered well irrigation to minimize water usage. The property is a leader in sustainable restoration and ranching practices, and is committed to setting a new standard in golf for the lowest possible carbon footprint.
Silvies Valley Ranch provides new economic opportunity for the region through jobs, inbound travelers and new ranching practices that are regularly shared with other ranchers and educators in the region. Local businesses benefit as providers of special excursion services to ranch guests, including steelhead and trout fishing, mountain biking, charters, trail riding and sightseeing. The property provides dozens of scholarships to local college-bound students to build the future leadership base in the region, as well as projects for masters and Ph.D. candidates.
For more information about Silvies Valley Ranch, call 1-800-SILVIES, email info@silviesvalleyranch.com or visit www.silviesvalleyranch.com.
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